Greek Verse:

Literal Alternative:

You are destined, however, to hear about battles and news of battles. Look out, you don't want to scare yourselves because this needs to come into being. Still, the consummation is really not yet.

Hidden Meaning:

this is Christ's first mention of war in the Gospels. This chapter is usually translated as the basis for the end of the world and the second coming. It can also be read as the story of the fall of the Temple and the end of the Jewish state, a story that came true during the lives of many of the apostles. However, this verse has a number of distinctive linguistic features that are hidden in translation.

The Greek word translated as "and" joins phrases in an adversarial way and it is usually translated as "but". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. When used in writing, it creates complex sentences, but when spoken, it makes a good pausing point so that an important or humorous word can follow.

The verb translated as "ye shall" is not a normal future tense. It is a special verb that means "be destined or likely to", "must surely have ", and "to put off."

"Hear" is translated from a Greek word that has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. It is in the form of an infinite, "to hear."

The word translated as "of wars" means "war", "battle", and "fight." this is its first use in the Gospels.

Rumours" is from is from the same root as "hear" above and means "hearing", and "something heard". It is an uncommon word for Christ.

The Greek word translated as "see" means "see", "observe", "to look", "to look out for," and "to see visions." It is one of three common words translated as "see" in the Gospels. He uses this word solely in the sense of "look out for" and "take heed."

The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done or don't think something that might be true. If it wasn't done or wasn't true, the objective negative of fact would be used.

The Greek word that is translated as "that ye be...troubled" means "to speak", "to utter aloud", "to scare," and "to terrify." It is an uncommon word for Christ and not one of the common words translated as "speak" or "say" in the Gospels. Christ uses it for its "scare" meaning. However, it is not that passive in which it is translated. It is a form with the subject acts on themselves, "scare yourselves."

The word translated as "for" can be treated as supporting a dependent clause, or, to prevent a run-on sentence, translated as a "this is because..." to start a new sentence.

"Must" is from a special verb that means "there is need" as we would say "it is necessary."

The word translated as "comes to pass" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Christ, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state.

The Greek word translated as "but" denote an exception or simple opposition. It is different than the word that begins this verse that is also usually translated as "but." "Still" or "however" work well when the word isn't being used as a conjunction, especially when it begins a sentence or phrase.

The word translated as "end" means "come to pass", "result", "consummation", "achievement", "attainment", and a lot of other terms indicating the completion of a task. this is not the negative sense of something coming to an end, as in the destruction of something, which is another verb from this same root. If you have studied philosophy or science, you may be familiar with the term teleology, which is from this word root. The sense of this word is the purpose of things, the goal or motivation for them not just their conclusion. This is a different word from the one that is translated as "the end" in the apostle's question about "the end of the age."

"Not yet" is an adverb that is a strong "not yet, which combines a softer form of "not yet" and a strong form of "not" and "not at all."

Wordplay:

The word for "hear" and "rumors" are from the same root word.

The Spoken Version:

"You are destined, however," he said, starting lightly but then making the words sound ominous as if telling a ghost story. "To hear about battles and tales of battles."

He looked at them so seriously that they began to worry.

"Look out," he whispered.

Then breaking into a smile, he yawned and shrugged as if this wa no big deal.

"You don't want to scare yourselves," he said matter of factly.

They asked him why.

"Because," he said lightly, with a shrug. "It has to happen."

Then he looked off in the distance.

"However," he said, with certainty. "It isn't the end goal. No, no, not yet."

δὲ "And" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if").

καὶ "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."

ἀκοὰς [uncommon](noun sg/pl fem gen) "Rumours" is from akoe which means "hearing", "something heard", "the sense of hearing," and "ear." this is the noun form of the verb above.

γὰρ "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for", "since," and "as." In an abrupt question it means "why" and "what."

“γενέσθαι,” (verb aor inf) "Come to pass" is from ginomai, which means "to become", "to come into being", "to be produced," and "to be." It means changing into a new state of being. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi)which indicates existence in the same state.

ἐστὶν (verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.") -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the sentence before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." -- The verb here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition.